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Dozens protest at rainy candlelight vigil
Thursday, 13 July 2006
By L.A. TARONE
Close to 200 people came.
They passed out and carried small American flags. Some girls wore them in their hair. They talked. They lit candles.
And they all got wet.

Thursday evening’s candlelight vigil at City Hall, arranged by the Hazleton Area Latino Taskforce, went on for an hour as planned despite the rain that started at about 8:05 and ended just before 9.

“We are here to show support for the people of Hazleton, the immigrants, and also for progress in this town,” Dr. Agapito Lopez, one of the vigil’s organizers, said just before it began. “This ordinance will affect everyone, not only Latinos. It will affect people with property to rent, it will affect business owners – part of that is because Latinos have become the majority of consumers in town – and it will affect immigrants who make up the workforce that attracts industries to this area.

“So this is really to show support for all the people of Hazleton,” Lopez said.

The event was a vigil, not a rally. There were no signs, no banners and no chants. Only Lopez and Anna Arias spoke publicly, and both briefly. Just before 8 p.m., Lopez walked up the steps of City Hall to the main entrance. Much of the crowd – most of which was Latino but included a number of non-Latinos – followed him. He made a few brief remarks in English to offiically begin the vigil.
Then the rain came.

Initially, it was hoped the showers would be light and brief. But as umbrellas appeared, the rain got heavier. For a while, it poured. Lopez used a megaphone to announce the vigil would go on.

“We are here to show solidarity,” Lopez announced. “We said we would stay here for an hour, until 9 p.m., and we’re staying despite the rain.”

Most in the crowd lit candles under umbrellas at about 8:30 p.m.
It appeared that most of the crowd was local. But there was out-of-town support as well. Several members of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came from Scranton.

“Our congregation has been talking a lot about possible changes in immigration law nationally,” Sister Mary Jo Gallagher said. “But this is not what we should do. We think this ordinance will harm immigrants and harm the people of Hazleton.”

Local businessman Amilcar Arroyo initially supported much of the ordinance. But he changed his mind after a few days.

“I support the mayor in his efforts to fight crime,” Arroyo said. “I still do. English is the common language of the U.S. and everyone should learn it. But what happened is that after a few days, I noticed people weren’t saying ‘illegals’ anymore, they were saying ‘Hispanics.’ I think this ordinance has opened the door for people to say, ‘We don’t want you here.’”

The vigil was peaceful and without incident. While city police said they were certain it would be, they were prepared for any trouble that might have popped up. Church Street in front of City Hall and a block of both Green and Maple streets were closed, with cruisers at each corner.

“Our goal is just to make sure there are no problems – that there are no infiltrators from outside causing any trouble,” Officer Jerry Tray said. “Church Street was closed so no one would drive by and yell racial epithets. Everyone has the right to be heard, and we want to be sure they can be.”

Agents from the federal Department of Justice and representatives from the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission were also in the crowd.

While the overwhelming majority of the crowd opposed the ordinance, there was a small handful of supporters of it as well. One, Robert Lindsay of Hazleton, was quite open. Carrying a larger American flag, Lindsay mixed with the rest of the crowd. He said he was there because “Mayor Barletta needs our support.”

“I support what he’s trying to do,” Lindsay said. He added he wasn’t concerned about being outnumbered at the vigil.

“If everyone just acts sensibly, nothing will happen,” Lindsay said. “I understand what (opponents) are saying. They have a right to speak. I’ll listen to their opinion if they’ll listen to mine.”

The rain began letting up about 8:50 p.m. As both the rain and the rally ended, Arias announced the turnout was a “blessing from God.” She also announced instructions to supporters, both in Spanish and English, for attending tonight’s council meeting. She asked supporters to start showing up at 5:30 p.m., told them the meeting starts at 6:30 (which is incorrect – it begins at 7 p.m.) and explained that not everyone would be allowed in because of the limited capacity of council chambers and the auditorium. She asked those who could not get in to stand silently outside. She told supporters not to argue with anyone; to simply stand there.

“If someone yells anything at you, say nothing,” Arias said.
Lopez announced, both in English and Spanish, “We came here to be free – and we are staying here!”

As the crowd began dissipating, a male voice with a Spanish accent yelled, “God bless America!”

The bulk of the crowd yelled back.

“God bless America!”